I love going out of town with my husband. We find a part of us that unfortunately is sometimes forgotten. We remember how much fun it is to be together and how great it is to meet new people, learn new things and reestablish our relationship.

But then there is a girl’s get away trip and that is exactly what it is! You get away from your reality, mates, dogs, errands, etc. and in this you go right into someone else’s vacation reality. So when my friend Teri asked Judy and I to come to her fabulous house in Mexico for her birthday, we both jumped at the chance. There were other girls invited who could not make it so Judy and I lucked out to have Teri and the house to ourselves! It is a breathtaking house on a magnificent strip of beach and I am always blown away by every detail and the exquisite taste that went into the making of this house.On a girl’s trip, there is no makeup, no hairdo, and a lot of talking, laughing and sometimes some tears. Even though one might have brought the perfect clothes, you end up wearing the same thing in one variation or another, every day.You eat whenever, nap whenever, swim in the aqua pool and the warm ocean and then nap some more. Oh yes, there is lot’s of reading and noshing happening too. We watched a little news and we talked about everything from Judge Kavanaugh to Sally Field’s love life.As an added bonus with this gorgeous house, there is a fabulous spa right down the beach where we would receive our daily treatment (massage, stretching, acupuncture and yoga). One day we actually made it into Zihuatanejo for a little lunch and shopping. Of course, we celebrated Teri’s birthday at the Present Moment (the name of the spa, who by the way has wonderful food) with Tequila and cake.It’s a different vacation with a man. It’s relaxing, easy and deliciousIf you haven’t tried it, you must!!!

Girls Trip Best Quotes – ‘Today is the last day that we will ever be this young.’

I hope you had a wonderful summer filled with hiking, friends, swimming, reading and most importantly good health and family.

Bob and I did not make it to Capri this year but instead visited grandchildren at Northwestern (Tess), and Santa Clara (Max). We went to Canyon Ranch in Tucson for a speaking engagement with hiking and massages thrown in and San Francisco for a whirlwind surprise from Bob for my birthday with couple of magnificent meals. we also hit Sun Valley for pure R & R. In our case, that means a lot of eating especially at Christina’s (our favorite) and a little hiking.

I was so happy that Bob did well in both altitude with hiking with his bad back and so did I with my weird hip. Our friend Mike went with us and saw Sun Valley for the first time and fell in love with it. We were scheduled to go earlier in the year but got called off earlier from fires and smoke all around the area. I’m so glad we waited because it was crystal clear and perfect temperature.

There is an epiphany that I had a few weeks ago that I can’t wait to tell you about. It has caused me to feel a peace deep within. I’m finding a certain kind of joy that I believe one can only obtain in their later life, a certain letting go. I’m no longer searching for anything other than joy. The self-imposed pressure I have been feeling on myself disappeared. I’m no longer searching for anything but joy. I no longer have to prove anything to anyone or more importantly to myself. I’m just looking for things that make me feel joyful. ie. Giving back, doing creative outlets, writing, painting, drawing. Don’t laugh, singing and dancing, etc.

I have started two new art classes at adult Ed. One is collage, a form of art that I have never taken before and the other is figure drawing. It feels wonderful. I’m rusty but happy to be there and learning once more.

My husband didn’t know what to do with himself after retirement, but has now partnered with an old friend and is happy to be back at work (part of the time). And yes, I have a new idea for a book that I will tell you about weeks to come. And yes, it is about my new epiphany.

So after three or four months of wondering what to do with my one and only “wild and precious” life. and what my next project will be, I think I’ve got it.

It’s about searching for and finding joy. I hope you will come with me.

I am taking the next few months off because I have many things to do every day.1. Walk the beach2. Nap3. Walk the hills4. Drink rosé5. Read lots of books6. Take photos7. Swim & lie in the sun8. Watch egrets on rocks9. Eat at Christina's in Sun Valley

The other day, I took a long walk with my friend Anne. It was a beautiful morning in Montecito and we walked along the water and we marveled at the scenery and how lucky we were. I especially appreciated it because I hadn’t been able to walk very far after my dumb dancing /walking exercise accident. We did a loop, where we walked along the beach, around the cemetery and eventually through Montecito and then back to my condo. It was probably two and a half miles, maybe three. As we came around to the main street, which is Coast Village Road, a women about forty flew by me in her running shorts, running shoes, arms akimbo, doing her morning run. All of a sudden, a vision crossed my mind and I could see the picture very clearly.

I was in New York. I was in my forties and had just separated from my then husband. I had sublet an apartment and I was lonely as hell. It sounded glamorous on paper. I was dating. I had a couple of friends that were great to me. We went to Elaine’s all the time in her hey day, but still, everything was strange. My kids weren’t there, nor my friends and I would come home every day, much to my horror, to a pink satin couch! I had painted for many years and was scheduled for two exhibits in New York. It should have been a very exciting time for me but I had made a very huge life changing decision and it was hard. All I could think of was "What have I done?"

The only thing that kept me sane was running. I ran for my life (it seemed) every day. I ran around the park, I ran on Madison Avenue, I ran wherever and whenever I could. One day, I went flying past a little hunched over older lady. I came to a stoplight and kept running in place as she slowly walked up to the same stoplight. She looked me up and down and said to me, not unkindly, “I used to be you”. At that time in my life, I thought to myself, I doubt she had been a runner. She had probably always been slow and older. I wish I could find her, forty years later and tell her I was sorry I had doubted her. Of course, she had been young once and had probably ran marathons. How on earth would I know or ever guess that one day, I would not be running, and would be gloriously happy to walk around this loop. How could I have guessed that? In my mind's eye I was never going to be older and would certainly not be curtailed in anything I liked to do. Who Knew?? Not me. So when that young woman flew by me on Coast Village Road, I almost said to her "I used to be you”, but I doubt she would have believed me!!!!!

One of the benefits of growing older, we get aha moments and suddenly, it all begins to make sense.